Psalms 51

"How many times should we ask for forgiveness?" "What things should we ask for forgiveness for?" "Why do we need to ask for forgiveness?" "Why do I keep sinning, even though I'm saved?"

These questions were all on a forum, and as I read them, my heart broke a little. For the saved, but confused. We've all been there at one time or another. What we were taught growing up conflicts with what we read in the Bible, or what someone told us in Sunday School now applies a little differently as adults, or young adults. It happens to me sometimes, but I know to seek out the answers in the Bible, and from God.
So, when I saw that these people were struggling with the topic of forgiveness, that's the first place I went. To God. I asked Him, Lord, am I to answer their questions? hoping He'd say no, so I could go to sleep, and then I just felt that I was supposed to get up and go read Psalms 51. Okay, Lord, I'll look it up. And I did. I suggested it to them, and one girl emailed back - "That's perfect. God's word is always true and right. Thanks for sharing that, it cleared up so many questions."

I think, no, I know, that God wanted me to read it too. Not just wanted, but needed me to read it. I needed to read and understand it.

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight; so You are right in Your verdict and justified when You judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet You desired faithfulness even in the womb; You taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." -Psalms 51:1-12

God, have mercy on me. I love that. I love praying that, when my heart just cries it out without my mind really having to think it. According to His unfailing love and great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Forgive my sins, Father. Wash them away, cast them as far as the East is from the West, cleanse me and my soul, fogive me of my sins, Abba, though I am not worthy. I beg, I plead, I ask, I beseech, I get down on my face before You.  I know my sins, I am convicted of them, I know that I have sinned against You, and done what is evil in Your sight. You are right, and true in Your role as High Judge, the only Judge. I was born into a sinful world, born into sin myself, but You've always wanted more for me. You wanted faithfulness from the beginning, and You taught me from a young age. I have strayed, like the prodigal son, but I'm coming back to the heart of You. Cleanse me, Lord. Make me new, and white as snow through the blood of Jesus. It is only becaues of Him that I can be forgiven. And I'm thankful everyday for Him. Create in me a pure heart, Jesus, renew the spirit within me. Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. Restore me.

I love Psalms 51. I've been going through it the past few days. Parts of it play throughout my mind most of the day, and I offer up a little prayer each time.

The best part is, even though we sin, purposefully or not, we need not to be constantly asking for forgiveness, because Jesus died for sins past, present, and future. When we accept Christ, He forgives all of our sins. But, if He convicts you, like He's done me, to let Him break your heart over the sin in your life, to remind you that you are a sinner saved by grace through faith, let Him. Let Him get you flat on your face, praying for forgiveness. Because when you do, it will change things.
It'll change the way you act, think, talk, pray, live.
He's amazing, in all of His wonderful ways.
His unfailing love and great compassion amazes me.